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<\/p>\nIn the early hours of 5 August 1944, a mass escape of Japanese prisoners of war occurred at a POW camp in Cowra, New South Wales, Australia, commonly known as the Cowra Breakout, resulting in the loss of 235 lives, including four Australian guards.<\/p>\n
The Japanese victims of the Cowra Breakout, together with other Japanese war dead who fell in Australia during World War II, are interred in the Cowra Cemetery. For many years, the people of Cowra \u2015 including those of generations who did not experience the war firsthand \u2015 have respectfully commemorated them.<\/p>\n
I would like to express my sincere respect and appreciation for the enduring compassion and dedication shown by the people of Cowra over the years.<\/p>\n
On 5 August 2025, marking 81 years since this tragic incident, the Cowra Prisoner of War Breakout 81st Anniversary Commemorations were held in Cowra, and I had the opportunity to attend the memorable ceremony, kindly invited by the Cowra Shire Council.<\/p>\n
In this milestone year marking 80 years since the end of World War II, and shortly after my arrival in Australia as the new Executive Director of CLAIR Sydney, I feel deeply honoured to be part of such a profoundly significant ceremony \u2015 one that is indispensable in reflecting on the reconciliation and enduring friendship that have developed between Australia and Japan in the post-war years.<\/p>\n
The ceremony was also attended by many local students and an exchange student from Japan.<\/p>\n
My experience in Cowra reminded me of the vital importance of passing down the memory of war to future generations to ensure that such tragedies are never repeated \u2015 especially as the number of those who personally experienced World War II continues to decline.<\/p>\n
In a world where conflicts continue to persist as we see today in regions such as Europe and the Middle East, I believe that peace begins with the awareness and actions of each individual.<\/p>\n
Through my visit to Cowra, I have renewed my determination to pass on the post-war history, especially to younger generations, including the remarkable story of how the enduring and profound bond between Australia and Japan was forged and nurtured in Cowra.\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/p>\n
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In the early hours of 5 August 1944, a mass escape of Japanese prisoners of war occur…<\/span><\/p>\n